Don't rush for new birth certificates -Minister

Inchaban(W/R) Sept. 2, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE) said the computerization of the births and deaths registry would begin before December 2008.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the fifth national births and deaths registration day celebration held at Inchaban near Shama on Monday. It was on the theme "Early Births and Deaths Registration: The Basis for Effective Development Planning". He said after the computerization, all birth certificates would have new security features and could be re-produced when the need arises.

Mr Adjei-Darko cautioned the public to avoid double registration, adding that, the current birth certificate is still valid and would be phased out gradually.

He said new personnel have been trained on the use of the new system and efforts are underway to decentralise and make birth certificates issuance available at the district level. "There is no need to rush and change existing birth certificates for those which have the new security features," he cautioned. Mr Adjei-Darko said the births and deaths registry had initiated the Community Population Register Programme (CPRP), which captures data and these data could be useful to the National Identification Authority (NIA), the various district assemblies and the Electoral Commission (EC). He said though the programme was laudable it had been implemented in only 21 communities and another 20 are likely to benefit from the CPRP.

Mr Adjei-Darko stressed that registration of children at birth must be a priority for all parents. He said "we need to register all births and deaths to enable us plan adequately for all section of the society". Mr Anthony E. Amoah, Western Regional Minister said the registration of births and deaths was vital for planning and government would need the data for its statistical work on housing, infrastructure and social services. He said though the registration started long ago, many parents and families have abandoned the idea and refused to register their births or deaths in the region.

Mr Amoah said apathy by many parents relating to the registration, has had negative effect on the children when they grew up and needed documents to further their education or travel outside the country. "Such stranded young people, attempt to seek the assistance of political leaders in securing documents, which their parents failed to secure for them," he stressed.

Mr Amoah noted that without adequate planning, the population was likely to outstrip the totally planned development in the country, and this could lead to frequent tensions of inadequacy and continual demand for more facilities.

In a statement read on her behalf, Dr Grace Bediako, Government Statistician said the human resource of any nation was vital for its total development, and the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR) was charged with the responsibility of compiling such data for future use. She said many people living in rural and remote communities have used distance to health facilities, traditional beliefs about deaths of minors and a general lack of interest in births and deaths registration as reasons for the low patronage.

She suggested that a joint registration exercise should be done with the Statistical Service, Ghana Health Service, Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDA). She said the exercise would increase registration and provide a comprehensive data on births and deaths nationwide. Dr Bediako urged the government to strengthen the BDR to make it function effectively. Mr Stephen Amoah, the acting registrar of the BDR said children under one year could register for free at birth. He therefore encouraged all parents to take advantage of the opportunity when they have new babies. 2 Sept. 08